A section of social media users were left panicked after a message went viral on Twitter and WhatsApp, warning the readers of "poisonous crackers" which Pakistan's ally China is considering to export to the Indian market. The warning, said to be issued by a "Senior Investigating Officer" of the Home Ministry, has asked the readers to detest from purchasing Chinese crackers and lights ahead of Diwali. Green Firecrackers For Diwali: What Are Eco-Friendly Crackers Approved By the Supreme Court?

*A Serious Alert* ... According to intelligence reports A distraught and frustrated Pakistan, since it is incapable of attacking India in a direct war, is seeking Chinese help to cause the following damage,/ disturbance in India ... *Please read this carefully and take proper care to safeguard your family from any kind of health or other problems*... 1.A different kind of crackers that produce smoke to cause Asthma in people who inhale that smoke. 2.Besides these crackers are also designed to produce Carbon Monoxide to cause breathing difficulty in people. further, China is reportedly producing decorative coloured electric bulbs and serial bulbs with a high content of Mercury. The light produced / emitted by these bulbs can be highly injurious and cause vision -related disturrbances in persons exposed to the light, especially children. *China is planning to flood the Indian market with these dangerous products considering the festive season ahead from Janmashtami till Diwali and Christmas*. The public are advised to consider the above mentioned information seriously in their own interest and *totally avoid purchasing any and all such products Made in China*. This measure is very essential for the well being of all Indians ... *The Citizens are hereby requested to forward and propagate this serious alert to the maximum extent possible among contacts, friends and relatives to safeguard the people as well as the economy of the country* ... *Jai Hind*

Screenshot of Hoax Message:

The above message is being forwarded on WhatsApp, the most popular social media messaging application. Apart from such texts, posts have flooded Twitter as well, where the micro-bloggers are alleging a similar ploy by China to take revenge on behalf of Pakistan.

Fake Alert Being Shared on Twitter:

*A Serious Alert* ... According to intelligence reports A distraught and frustrated Pakistan, since it is incapable of attacking India in a direct war, is seeking Chinese help to cause the following damage,/ disturbance in India ...

A search has revealed that there is no such officer with the name of Biswajit Mukherjee, as mentioned in the hoax alert messages shared above.

It has been confirmed that no such warning has been issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The Chinese products continue to be imported and have not been red-flagged by any of the agencies. Thus, the alert has been found to be completely fake.

Notably, such messages have went viral last year as well, with social media users appealing their brethren to refrain from the use of Chinese crackers on Diwali.

Hoax Alert Shared Last Year:

Big volume is filled with mercury in Chinese decorative lights.

Please do not use these Chinese products for your own dear life and also for the safety of the country.

Biswajit Mukherjee, Senior Investigation Officer, Home Ministry, Government of India

The message last year as well mentioned the same fictional officer - Biswajit Mukherjee - who does not exist in the Home Ministry. Further, the MHA had not issued any such alert last year as well. LatestLY would like to recommend social media users to fact-check such audacious claims via a simple search on Google, rather than blindly forwarding them under panic.